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Racing Flat season preview

WITH no flat racing until at least June 1, we thought it would be a good idea to look forward to the new delayed flat season over the next few Saturday columns and try to pinpoint some horses to follow as and when the action returns.

I shall have a look at some horses that could go through the handicap ranks into possibly group company, some dark horses that could leave their current form behind and also go through the different categories at the highest level from the sprinting division to the lung-bursting stayers.

For our opening preview though, it’s a look at the classic pretenders, the three-year-olds set to make their mark in the 1,000g, 2,000g, Oaks, Derby and St Leger.

At the head of the two Guineas’ markets are two pretty solid market leaders in Pinatubo and Quadrilateral.

The former was head and shoulders above his juvenile rivals and has every right to be a short-priced favourite for the 2,000 Guineas probably based more on his National Stakes success than his only workmanlike win in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

However, 5/4 is plenty short enough about his chances in the Newmarket classic and with the race likely to be put back by at least six weeks in the year it gives even more time for his counterparts to catch up physically on him and at that price he makes absolutely no appeal.

If Palace Pier picks up from his two wins as a two-year-old last year then he remains a player at a double-figure price, while Earthlight should stay the searching mile and is respected. However, I have gone for a spot of value in the form of VATICAN CITY trained by Aidan O’Brien.

The son of Galileo made a promising start to his career when an eye-catching running on fifth over seven furlongs at Newmarket and then hacked up in a Dundalk maiden four weeks later.

There is a lovely balance of stamina and speed in his breeding and a fast-run mile at Newmarket should be perfect for him as he isn’t guaranteed to stay an awful lot further, possibly a mile-and-a-quarter in time as he matures.

Quadrilateral made rapid progress in a short space of time to show she is a smart filly and 5/1 may still represent a fair price for the fillies’ classic being that she has an awful lot of physical scope. I fancy though a mile on summer ground at Newmarket may prove a bit sharp and I like the French filly KHAYZARAAN if she makes the journey over.

Following an educational debut she then won two minor events showing a high cruising speed and a good turn of foot on both occasions. Of course there is no guarantee she will run here as opposed to Longchamp, but if she does the point should be taken as she is potentially top-class.

The longer classics are of course more open at this stage so here are a few names to digest in the coming months.

For the Oaks, I like PEACEFUL, second to the highly touted Born With Pride at Newmarket in a race that has worked out well, she is freely available at 25/1.

In the Derby, I think Pinatubo is the wrong favourite and I have already backed John Gosden’s HYPOTHETICAL, sole winner of his only start over a mile at Chelmsford. His breeding suggests he is no cast iron to stay 12 furlongs, but his strong galloping style suggests otherwise.

Finally for the St Leger have a look at the promising BRENTFORD HOPE (Richard Hughes) and TUSCAN GAZE (John Gosden). The former won his only start over a mile-and-a-quarter, while the last named needed every yard of the 7f to land his novice event at Newmarket and is sure to stay and stay well.

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